I just spent $1,600 on a vacuum....

bridejl

A couple months ago, H was too nice and let the Kirby salesman in. It was the worst Sunday afternoon we've ever endured.

For what it's worth, Kirby's are quite well-built and will clean your floors well.

Just not worth $1600 hard-earned bucks.

vlagrl29

I never answer the door if it's someone I don't know and I'm alone, but DH will answer it.  That kinda annoys me and I wish he wouldn't but he does tell then NO really fast.  We had a sales guy ringing door bells in our neighborhood at 9pm - WTF?!  Apparently he was selling magazines, but our neighbor said he was asking weird questions like do you have kids?  how many?

noffgurl

This is why I have big dogs, then they don't even bother coming to the door.

formerlyGDaisy09

noffgurl said:

This is why I have big dogs, then they don't even bother coming to the door.

My dog would never hurt a fly and thinks everyone is her best friend, but boy, when a car or truck pulls into our driveway or someone knocks on the door, you would think she was going to rip their heads off. 

noffgurl

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

This is why I have big dogs, then they don't even bother coming to the door.

My dog would never hurt a fly and thinks everyone is her best friend, but boy, when a car or truck pulls into our driveway or someone knocks on the door, you would think she was going to rip their heads off. 

Ours are super sweet too, but look intimidating. We have a pit that looks mean as all get out (we think she used to be fought) but she cuddles and wrestles with the cats. Lol.

formerlyGDaisy09

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

This is why I have big dogs, then they don't even bother coming to the door.

My dog would never hurt a fly and thinks everyone is her best friend, but boy, when a car or truck pulls into our driveway or someone knocks on the door, you would think she was going to rip their heads off. 

Ours are super sweet too, but look intimidating. We have a pit that looks mean as all get out (we think she used to be fought) but she cuddles and wrestles with the cats. Lol.

We're a dalmatian family, they're another breed often misrepresented as mean and agressive. 

noffgurl

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

This is why I have big dogs, then they don't even bother coming to the door.

My dog would never hurt a fly and thinks everyone is her best friend, but boy, when a car or truck pulls into our driveway or someone knocks on the door, you would think she was going to rip their heads off. 

Ours are super sweet too, but look intimidating. We have a pit that looks mean as all get out (we think she used to be fought) but she cuddles and wrestles with the cats. Lol.

We're a dalmatian family, they're another breed often misrepresented as mean and agressive.

I am a pretty firm believer that a dogs behavior is significantly dependent on how you treat the dog. I would say it's all in how they are raised, but really most all of the ones we have had were rescued (occasionally from a shelter but mostly off the streets). We have had several dogs over the years that grew up on the streets and by the time we found them you can tell they've been abused and have reverted back to their natural instincts. But then, we bring them home and they are the sweetest animals you could ask for. We had a chocolate Lab that H found hiding by a dumpster in Houston. Some people were throwing pizza boxes at her. He coaxed her over to his truck and brought her home. You couldn't ask for a better dog. She was so tolerant of an at the time 3 year old, and all she wanted to do was give love and lay around. It broke my heart when we had to put her down. A few months after we got her, she started coughing and then started to refuse her food and water. The vet said she had cancer and an enlarged heart, even if we could have afforded to do surgery the vet didn't think it would be successful.

formerlyGDaisy09

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

This is why I have big dogs, then they don't even bother coming to the door.

My dog would never hurt a fly and thinks everyone is her best friend, but boy, when a car or truck pulls into our driveway or someone knocks on the door, you would think she was going to rip their heads off. 

Ours are super sweet too, but look intimidating. We have a pit that looks mean as all get out (we think she used to be fought) but she cuddles and wrestles with the cats. Lol.

We're a dalmatian family, they're another breed often misrepresented as mean and agressive.

I am a pretty firm believer that a dogs behavior is significantly dependent on how you treat the dog. I would say it's all in how they are raised, but really most all of the ones we have had were rescued (occasionally from a shelter but mostly off the streets). We have had several dogs over the years that grew up on the streets and by the time we found them you can tell they've been abused and have reverted back to their natural instincts. But then, we bring them home and they are the sweetest animals you could ask for. We had a chocolate Lab that H found hiding by a dumpster in Houston. Some people were throwing pizza boxes at her. He coaxed her over to his truck and brought her home. You couldn't ask for a better dog. She was so tolerant of an at the time 3 year old, and all she wanted to do was give love and lay around. It broke my heart when we had to put her down. A few months after we got her, she started coughing and then started to refuse her food and water. The vet said she had cancer and an enlarged heart, even if we could have afforded to do surgery the vet didn't think it would be successful.

Dals got a bad rep because they were over-bread after the disney movie came out, they are high energy dogs (seriously if my girl doesn't get a long walk or a good play session in she'll drive anyone up a wall!), people adopted them thinking they'd have similar temperments to labs or retreivers, when infact their breed history is that they were raised to be able to train to run 20+ miles a day along side carriages. people go in over their heads and things turned out badly for the dogs

FirstMate06

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

This is why I have big dogs, then they don't even bother coming to the door.

My dog would never hurt a fly and thinks everyone is her best friend, but boy, when a car or truck pulls into our driveway or someone knocks on the door, you would think she was going to rip their heads off. 

Ours are super sweet too, but look intimidating. We have a pit that looks mean as all get out (we think she used to be fought) but she cuddles and wrestles with the cats. Lol.

We're a dalmatian family, they're another breed often misrepresented as mean and agressive.

I am a pretty firm believer that a dogs behavior is significantly dependent on how you treat the dog. I would say it's all in how they are raised, but really most all of the ones we have had were rescued (occasionally from a shelter but mostly off the streets). We have had several dogs over the years that grew up on the streets and by the time we found them you can tell they've been abused and have reverted back to their natural instincts. But then, we bring them home and they are the sweetest animals you could ask for. We had a chocolate Lab that H found hiding by a dumpster in Houston. Some people were throwing pizza boxes at her. He coaxed her over to his truck and brought her home. You couldn't ask for a better dog. She was so tolerant of an at the time 3 year old, and all she wanted to do was give love and lay around. It broke my heart when we had to put her down. A few months after we got her, she started coughing and then started to refuse her food and water. The vet said she had cancer and an enlarged heart, even if we could have afforded to do surgery the vet didn't think it would be successful.

Dals got a bad rep because they were over-bread after the disney movie came out, they are high energy dogs (seriously if my girl doesn't get a long walk or a good play session in she'll drive anyone up a wall!), people adopted them thinking they'd have similar temperments to labs or retreivers, when infact their breed history is that they were raised to be able to train to run 20+ miles a day along side carriages. people go in over their heads and things turned out badly for the dogs

I own a Siberian husky (who is a big lovey wimp) and I totally agree that it's all in how you raise your dog. My girl looks like a blue-eyed wolf but she's just as kind and gentle as can be. Huskies have a bad reputation too and I learned that after applying to different apartments and houses to rent and seeing that their pet policies forbid them (along with a long list of other "aggressive breeds").

It's always best when people do their research on different breeds and their needs prior to adopting. Also, it makes me sad how some breeds are generalized and labeled as aggressive when really it's the owners that raise them to be that way.

Sorry, kind of a rant but everything you ladies were saying hit home for me!

FirstMate06

Also- my husky is the reason I was reading this vacuum thread to begin with. I'm trying to convince H that we should take the plunge and buy the $$$ pet Roomba so I'm not vacuuming and Swiffer-ing up tumbleweeds of fur everyday.

formerlyGDaisy09

FirstMate06 said:

Also- my husky is the reason I was reading this vacuum thread to begin with. I'm trying to convince H that we should take the plunge and buy the $$$ pet Roomba so I'm not vacuuming and Swiffer-ing up tumbleweeds of fur everyday.

that's the vacuum we're saving for! Dals are what they call daily shedders...little white (and some black) hairs everywhere! if my girl hasn't been brushed in a few days she'll shake and you can see a cloud of little white hair fly off of her. I bulk buy lint rollers. plus side no "doggy" smell.

noffgurl

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

FirstMate06 said:

Also- my husky is the reason I was reading this vacuum thread to begin with. I'm trying to convince H that we should take the plunge and buy the $$$ pet Roomba so I'm not vacuuming and Swiffer-ing up tumbleweeds of fur everyday.

that's the vacuum we're saving for! Dals are what they call daily shedders...little white (and some black) hairs everywhere! if my girl hasn't been brushed in a few days she'll shake and you can see a cloud of little white hair fly off of her. I bulk buy lint rollers. plus side no "doggy" smell.

I can make puppies after brushing my lab/retriever lol, I haven't figured out the trick to completely eliminating the hair EVERYWHERE.

short+sassy

@FirstMate06, many property insurance companies...whether homeowner's or commercial property...usually have a list of forbidden dog breeds.

I rent out the other side of my duplex and do allow dogs of any size...except the breeds not allowed by my insurance.  I agree that breed doesn't usually mean anything in terms of aggression, but it's not my call if I don't want to get in trouble with my insurance.

Huskies are fine on my insurance, but they don't allow Dobermans, German Shepherds, Rotts, Pits, or Chow-Chows.  

vlagrl29

our 22 lb schnauzer is the same way - watch dog and crazy loud bark.  I have to remind people she is harmless.

formerlyGDaisy09

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

FirstMate06 said:

Also- my husky is the reason I was reading this vacuum thread to begin with. I'm trying to convince H that we should take the plunge and buy the $$$ pet Roomba so I'm not vacuuming and Swiffer-ing up tumbleweeds of fur everyday.

that's the vacuum we're saving for! Dals are what they call daily shedders...little white (and some black) hairs everywhere! if my girl hasn't been brushed in a few days she'll shake and you can see a cloud of little white hair fly off of her. I bulk buy lint rollers. plus side no "doggy" smell.

I can make puppies after brushing my lab/retriever lol, I haven't figured out the trick to completely eliminating the hair EVERYWHERE.

I've heard wonderful things about the furminator for double coated breeds.  we recently fell in love with the zoom-groom which I imagine works well for all those short coated dogs out there. 

short+sassy

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

FirstMate06 said:

Also- my husky is the reason I was reading this vacuum thread to begin with. I'm trying to convince H that we should take the plunge and buy the $$$ pet Roomba so I'm not vacuuming and Swiffer-ing up tumbleweeds of fur everyday.

that's the vacuum we're saving for! Dals are what they call daily shedders...little white (and some black) hairs everywhere! if my girl hasn't been brushed in a few days she'll shake and you can see a cloud of little white hair fly off of her. I bulk buy lint rollers. plus side no "doggy" smell.

I can make puppies after brushing my lab/retriever lol, I haven't figured out the trick to completely eliminating the hair EVERYWHERE.

I've heard wonderful things about the furminator for double coated breeds.  we recently fell in love with the zoom-groom which I imagine works well for all those short coated dogs out there. 

I have a furminator for our cat (Nip).  She has a short coat, but it is a double coat.  It works great!  It really clears out the under fur.  After brushing her, there is so much fur, I swear I could create her clone, lol. 

brij2006

short+sassy said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

noffgurl said:

formerlyGDaisy09 said:

FirstMate06 said:

Also- my husky is the reason I was reading this vacuum thread to begin with. I'm trying to convince H that we should take the plunge and buy the $$$ pet Roomba so I'm not vacuuming and Swiffer-ing up tumbleweeds of fur everyday.

that's the vacuum we're saving for! Dals are what they call daily shedders...little white (and some black) hairs everywhere! if my girl hasn't been brushed in a few days she'll shake and you can see a cloud of little white hair fly off of her. I bulk buy lint rollers. plus side no "doggy" smell.

I can make puppies after brushing my lab/retriever lol, I haven't figured out the trick to completely eliminating the hair EVERYWHERE.

I've heard wonderful things about the furminator for double coated breeds.  we recently fell in love with the zoom-groom which I imagine works well for all those short coated dogs out there. 

I have a furminator for our cat (Nip).  She has a short coat, but it is a double coat.  It works great!  It really clears out the under fur.  After brushing her, there is so much fur, I swear I could create her clone, lol. 

Another advocate for the furminator.  That's what we use on our purebred Collie.  It's amazing and lasts so much longer.